Experiencing God’s love within myself is better than ANYTHING else in my life; but—having God’s love flowing through me into someone else—is even better! Why? Because love’s essence is in—sharing it…without an expectation of reciprocation. Then, we experience love a little more like God does. How does God experience love?
God IS love; He…”suffers long and is kind; does not envy; is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek His own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things and…never fails.”
(I Corinthians 13:4-8)
God’s presence is the foundation of REAL love. The Bible says “God IS love.” (1 John 4:8b) God created us in His image. (Genesis 1:27) Thus, we were created to love like He does. Before we are born again, meaning, our Spirit is made alive through accepting the gift of salvation, we are only capable of loving with our body, heart, and mind which are in a nearly constant state of desperate need. Without God’s love, our need for love is never satisfied. But when our spirit and soul are made alive through Christ, our ability to love reaches the spirit and soul level. We are empowered to engage God, who IS love. The love we HAVE and GIVE reaches—supernatural dimensions.
Why are so many Christians then—NOT living in this remarkable experience of God’s love?
Well, for me, it was because I had lived in “religion” without surrender to a daily “relationship” with God. I didn’t really seek to KNOW Him. I ran from Him. I was afraid of what He would require of me. I was willing to follow the rules of the Bible that were acceptable to ME, but I failed to surrender 100% to Almighty God. I kept Him at arm’s length and denied myself the greatest love I could possess. But when I began to surrender ALL to Him, I began to experience love like I’d never known. Now that I understand the vital connection between surrendering everything to God and experiencing His love—100% surrender is part of my daily prayer life. I know my enemies (the devil, my flesh, and the world culture) work against my soul to tear me away from my commitment to Him. But God knows me better than my enemies do. He loves me best. He answers my prayer to strengthen my desire for Himself.
My friend, knowing God intimately is critical to BOTH experiencing love for yourself AND learning to love others. The Bible says:
“Anyone who does NOT LOVE does NOT KNOW God, because God is love.”
(1 John 4:8)
Because LOVE is FROM God; when we are BORN AGAIN and SEEK to KNOW Him…we LOVE like HE does:
“Let us love one another, for love is of God; and EVERYONE who LOVES is born of God and KNOWS God.”
(I John 4:7)
If you are born again and you know God, His love WILL pour unchecked out of your life. Challenge yourself: What is the evidence of God’s love in your life? Does it look like God’s love as described above from 1 Corinthians 13? Ah, we can all do God’s love better—right?
Full surrender to God enriches our life with His love; it flows out of us like a fountain in the driest desert.
To learn more about Kimberly Faith and the mission of Faith Strong, click HERE.
Out Now – Essential Faith, Volume II. Find it on Amazon by clicking HERE.
